For Original Article: Click HereThis month, a shocking new study concluded Hormone Replacement (HRT) is safe and DOES NOT cause breast cancer. This new Lancet Oncology study reports the long term follow up for the Women's Heath Initiative Study which was originally published in JAMA in 2004. (1-4)
The Original 2004 WHI Report - 6.8 years of Follow Up
The original WHI study (second arm) enrolled about 10,000 women after hysterectomy. Half were given placebo, and the other half were given a horse estrogen called Premarin (see above left image courtesy of wikmedia commons). Premarin is also called CEE for Conjugated Equine Estrogen. This is estrogen from pregnant horses.
The original report in JAMA 2004 included 6.8 years of follow up showing 23% Less Invasive Breast Cancer in the Premarin Hormone (CEE) group than in the placebo group . There were 94 breast cancer cases in the hormone (CEE) group and 124 cases of breast cancer in the placebo group. This comparison narrowly missed statistical significance.
In addition, there was 9% less heart disease, and 39% less hip fracture in the hormone treated group. The Premarin pill caused increased clotting (hypercoagulable state) resulting in increased stroke and pulmonary embolus in the Premarin Pill users, which caused early termination of the study. This is one reason why topical estrogen is preferable to pill form estrogen. Topical delivery of estradiol (bioidentical estrogen) does not cause increased coagulability, does not increase risk for CVA or stroke, is safer and the preferred delivery route.
11.8 years of Follow Up on the WHI Women- Still 23% Reduction
The original WHI group of women were followed for an additional 6 years, for a total of 11.8 years of follow up, and this data was reported in Lancet Oncology by Garnet L Anderson PhD, and Rowan T Chlebowski (3,4). Here is what they found.
After 11.8 years of follow up, the Premarin (horse estrogen) had 151 cases of invasive breast cancer and the placebo group had 199 cases. This represents a 23% reduction in breast cancer in the hormone treated group. This was statistically significant. (P=.02)
63% Reduction in Mortality From Breast Cancer
In addition, in the hormone treated group, there was a 63% per cent reduction in death from breast cancer. 16 women died from invasive breast cancer in the placebo group, compared to only 6 in the hormone treated group.
Editorial by Howell and Cuzick
In an editorial in the same issue of Lancet Oncology, the Drs Anthony Howell and Jack Cuzick review the findings and conclude that the benefits of estrogen HRT include:
1) reduced risk of coronary artery disease and reduced risk of heart attacks
2) Reduced Risk of All Cause Mortality with improved survival numbers in the hormone treated group.
3) They advise women to avoid PremPro (the combined HRT pill ) which adds in a synthetic progestin, as the synthetic progestin IS associated with increased breast cancer.
Here is the quote:
"Young women (50--59 years) taking oestrogen were significantly less likely to have coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, and death from all causes, not only with respect to older women but also placebo controls of the same age. Observational and WHI studies agree on the increased risk of breast cancer with combined hormone replacement therapy (including a progestin). "
"The WHI investigators should be congratulated for providing insight into the value of conjugated equine oestrogens and young women can be reassured of the low risks and potentially striking benefits,"
Premarin by Wikimedia Commons
Above Image: Equilin -Premarin (Horse) (Wikimedia)
Estradiol by Wikimedia commons
Above Image:Human Estradiol (wikimedia)
The NIH Should Study Human Bioidentical Estradiol and Progesterone
The WHI study showing the Estrogen reduces risk of breast cancer, reduces heart disease, reduces risk of hip fracture, and other and health benefits was done with Premarin, a horse estrogen.
You might ask the obvious question,
"Why Did The Study Not Use Estradiol", which is a human hormone (a bioidentical hormone)? Why use estrogen from a horse when human estradiol in available? The answer is obvious. The NIH is a branch of the government and the government is controlled by the Pharmaceutical industry which makes Premarin. We need the NIH to do studies for the benefit of the people, not the drug industry. We need to repeat the WHI study using estradiol and progesterone, and never again victimize women with the carcinogenic PremPro pill ( Premarin and Provera) which was shown to cause breast cancer and heart disease.
Bioidentical Hormones Are Safe and Do Not increase Risk of Breast Cancer
In retrospect, the Lancet Oncology findings have been known for decades. Bioidentical Hormone users are healthier and live longer than non-hormone users. Bioidentical Hormones do not cause increased breast cancer risk, and are associated with all the health benefits shown in the Women's Health Initiative (second arm) for women using estrogen alone. Premarin is not human, but it is natural. A much more better HRT program is the combination of human bioidentical estrogen available as Bi-Est (Estradiol and Estriol), with the addition of Progesterone a human bioidentical hormone. This is the program we use in our office.
For references and articles with related interest: Click Here
Jeffrey Dach MD
